Michael Brooks
The Ten Commandments are a set of religious and moral imperatives that form the basis of several Abrahamic religions, including Catholicism. The Catholic Church considers the Commandments to be essential for spiritual well-being and growth, and they are a common topic of examination for Catholics before receiving the sacrament of Penance. While there are some differences in interpretation and enumeration between Catholic and Protestant traditions, both agree on the fundamental importance of the Commandments as a moral foundation. The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus freed people from the Mosaic Law but reinforced the obligation to follow the Ten Commandments, which are seen as God's ideas about humanity rather than human ideas about God.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The Ten Commandments are a series of religious and moral imperatives | The Ten Commandments are recognized as a moral foundation in several of the Abrahamic religions, including the Catholic Church |
| The Catholic Church considers the Ten Commandments to be essential for spiritual good health and growth | The Commandments serve as the basis for Catholic social teaching |
| The Catholic Church uses the numbering system created by St. Augustine in the fifth century | The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the official exposition of the Catholic Church's Christian beliefs |
| The Catechism categorizes violations of the sixth commandment into two categories: "offenses against chastity" and "offenses against the dignity of marriage" | The Church teaches that sexual pleasure is good and created by God, who meant for spouses to "experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit" |
| The Catholic Church considers all sexual acts outside of marriage to be grave sins | These sins 'exclude one from sacramental communion' until repented of and forgiven in sacramental confession." |
| The Catholic Church combines coveting your neighbor’s wife and coveting your neighbor’s property into a single commandment | This is the ninth commandment according to the Catholic Church |
| The Catholic Church does not consider the use of God's name in taking solemn oaths administered by legitimate authority to be a violation of the commandment | However, lying under oath, invoking God's name for magical purposes, or voicing words of hatred or defiance against God are considered sins of blasphemy |
| The Catholic Church observes Sunday as the special day for rest and worship, which they call the "Lord's Day" | This is based on the understanding that Sunday is the day of Jesus' resurrection |
| The Catholic Church views the coming of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament | Jesus instructed his followers to go beyond the Commandments and strive for "a 'righteousness (which) exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees'" |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church's interpretation of the first commandment
The first commandment, as understood by the Catholic Church, also prohibits superstition and sacrilege. Superstition, in this context, refers to attributing to creatures or objects powers that belong to God alone, such as the use of charms or spells, belief in dreams or fortune-telling, or consulting spiritists or soothsayers. Sacrilege, on the other hand, involves mistreating sacred persons, places, or things.
The Catechism provides examples of forbidden practices that would violate the first commandment, such as the worship of any creature, demons, or created things. It also includes the worship of "power, pleasure, race," and other things that are not God.
The first commandment, as interpreted by the Catholic Church, also requires an open profession of faith. This means that Catholics are expected to make their religious beliefs known, unless doing so would violate a law of God or the Church, cause scandal, or expose them to the danger of sinning.
The interpretation of the first commandment by the Catholic Church also emphasizes the importance of acts of faith, hope, and charity. This includes worshipping and adoring God, praying to Him, and living according to the teachings of the Church.
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The Catechism's categorisation of the sixth commandment
The Catechism categorises violations of the sixth commandment into two categories: "offenses against chastity" and "offenses against the dignity of marriage".
The Catechism describes chastity as a moral virtue, a gift from God, a grace, and a fruit of spiritual effort. It is a virtue that all people are called to acquire. The Catechism states that sexual pleasure is good and created by God, who intended for spouses to "experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit". However, lust—the desire for sexual pleasure outside its intended purpose of procreation and the uniting of man and woman—is considered a sin.
The Catechism also addresses homosexuality within its explanation of the sixth commandment. Homosexual acts are considered sins, but homosexual attractions are not. Homosexual inclinations are seen as a "great trial" for the individual, who is "called to chastity" and instructed to practice "self-mastery" through prayer and the sacraments.
Adultery, or marital infidelity, is another violation of the sixth commandment. It is seen as an injustice that undermines the institution of marriage and compromises the welfare of children. Jesus insisted on the indissolubility of marriage, and the sixth commandment and the New Testament forbid adultery absolutely.
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The Catholic Church's view on the second commandment
The second commandment, as traditionally understood by Protestants, is based on Exodus 20:4, which states: "You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth". This interpretation of the commandment has been used to criticise the use of statues and images in Catholic churches.
However, the Catholic Church has a different interpretation of the second commandment. Firstly, it is important to note that the numbering of the commandments differs between Catholic and Protestant traditions. The Catholic Church combines coveting your neighbour's wife and coveting your neighbour's property into a single commandment, resulting in a different numbering system.
Secondly, the Catholic Church does not view the creation of images or statues as a violation of the second commandment. At the Second Council of Nicaea in 787, the ecumenical council determined that the veneration of icons and statues was not in violation of the commandment, as long as it was respectful and not worship. The Church states that the honour paid to sacred images is a "respectful veneration", not the adoration due to God alone.
Furthermore, the Catholic Church argues that the Bible itself contains examples of God commanding or praising the making of images and statues, which would contradict a strict interpretation of the second commandment. For instance, in Exodus 25:18, God commands Moses to make statues representing two angels. Therefore, the Catholic Church interprets the second commandment as condemning idolatry, or the worship of anything or anyone other than God, rather than the creation of images or statues.
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The Sabbath and the Lord's Day
The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, Saturday, when God rested after creating the world. The Fourth Commandment, as outlined in Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy, instructs people to "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy". This commandment is also referred to as the Third Commandment.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) explains that Sunday, the Lord's Day, replaces the Sabbath for Christians. This is based on the interpretation that the Sabbath is not binding for Christians, and that the Third Commandment is mutable in terms of the day it is observed on, with the ceremonial observance of Sunday fulfilling the spiritual truth of the Jewish Sabbath.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2175) states:
> "Sunday is expressly distinguished from the Sabbath, which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians, its ceremonial observance replaces that of the Sabbath. In Christ's Passover, Sunday fulfils the spiritual truth of the Jewish Sabbath and announces man's eternal rest in God. For worship under the Law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ: those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer keeping the Sabbath, but the Lord's Day, in which our life is blessed by him and his death."
The New Testament also supports this interpretation, with Colossians 2:16-17 stating:
> "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival, a new moon, or a Sabbath day – things which are a mere shadow of what is to come but the substance belongs to Christ."
However, some Catholics believe that the Sabbath should be observed on Saturday, as the Fourth Commandment instructs, and that this is essential for salvation. They argue that Hebrews 4:9 declares: "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God".
Despite this difference in interpretation, all Catholics agree that the commandments should be followed and that a special day of the week should be kept holy. Sunday, the Lord's Day, is considered a day of worship, celebration of the Mass, and rest for Catholics.
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The Ten Commandments as a moral foundation
The Ten Commandments are a set of religious and moral imperatives that serve as a moral foundation for several Abrahamic religions, including Catholicism. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, these commandments are essential for spiritual well-being and growth and are the basis for Catholic social teaching.
The Ten Commandments, as described in the Old Testament books of Exodus and Deuteronomy, form a covenant between God and the Israelites, offering them freedom from the spiritual slavery of sin. While the Jewish version of the commandments primarily follows Exodus 20, the Catholic Church's Catechism combines Exodus and Deuteronomy, resulting in a slightly different enumeration.
The first commandment in Jewish life is the affirmation of monotheism: "I am the Lord your God." This corresponds to the famous "Shema" in Deuteronomy 6:4. The second commandment in the Jewish faith addresses both polytheism and the prohibition of creating or worshipping images of other deities or gods. This is where the first divergence between the Jewish and Catholic enumerations occurs.
In Catholic teaching, the second commandment is often seen as part of the first, focusing on the condemnation of idolatry rather than the creation of images. This interpretation is supported by various biblical texts that depict God commanding or praising the making of images and statues. The Catholic Church emphasizes that the first commandment forbids the worship of anyone or anything other than God.
The Catholic Church views the coming of Jesus as the fulfilment of the Old Testament. Jesus acknowledged the Commandments but instructed his followers to go beyond mere adherence, seeking a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. According to Catholic theologian Peter Kreeft, Jesus freed people from the burden of the Mosaic Law's 613 regulations but upheld the obligation to keep the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments provide a moral framework for Catholics, with violations of specific commandments, such as the sixth commandment, categorised and addressed through practices like confession and repentance. The Commandments are a central aspect of Catholic theology and spiritual practice, guiding believers toward spiritual growth and a righteous life.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Catholic Church considers the 10 Commandments a series of religious and moral imperatives that are essential for spiritual good health and growth.
The first commandment in the Catholic Church is: "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them".
The numbering and division of the Commandments have varied throughout history. The Catechism of the Catholic Church follows the division established by St. Augustine in the fifth century, which is different from the numbering system created by Origen in the third century that many Protestant churches use. The divergence happens in the first, second, ninth, and tenth commandments.
The sixth commandment concerns "offenses against chastity" and "offenses against the dignity of marriage". The Church teaches that sexual pleasure is good and created by God, who meant for spouses to "experience pleasure and enjoyment of body and spirit". Lust, defined as the desire for sexual pleasure outside its intended purpose of procreation and the uniting of man and woman, is considered a sin.
